Laura Elizabeth Since moving to Australia, I’ve been dying to explore more areas outside of Sydney! With the arrival of 2 of my friends from home, we decided to spend a long weekend in Melbourne and explore all that the vibrant city has to offer.
Here are some of the best things to do in Melbourne!
Visit the Shrine of remembrance
As the name suggests, this iconic landmark near the centre of Melbourne, this monument was initially built as a tribute to Victoria’s men and women who served in World War I, and now serves as a memorial commemorating all Australians who have served in any war. It’s a great place to start your trip to Melbourne, as it gives you a glimpse of the city’s history.
Wander the Royal Botanical Gardens
Close to the Shrine of Rememberance, you will find the Royal Botanical Gardens. Open every day of the year, and free to visit (unless a ticketed event), the gardens are a popular place to visit in Melbourne thanks to the gorgeous greenery and exotic plants that can be found there. It’s the perfect place to spend a warm spring or summer day in the city!
Explore the markets of Melbourne
If you’re in the mood for a bit of shopping, Melbourne has plenty of markets on offer! South Melbourne market is a great sized market to get you started, with lots of stalls selling goods, and delicious places to eat. Queen Victoria market is another popular market, offering fresh, quality produce & specialty shopping.
Drink and some of the cities best Rooftop bars
Melbourne is a city famous for it’s food and drink culture, and so understandably, there is no shortage of incredible rooftop bars to enjoy a cold beverage with gorgeous city views. My favourites include Cookie Rooftop and HERS rooftop, both found in the CBD.
Eat lots of good food
Following on from the food and drink culture, you will find any kind of cuisine in Melbourne. I can honestly say in the 4 days that I was there, I didn’t have a mediocre meal! There are tons of brunch spots, BYO asian restaurants and more. No matter your cravings or budget, you will find some incredible eateries!
Enjoy the nightlife
One thing that I personally find Sydney to be lacking, is decent nightlife. Melbourne, on the other hand is arguably one of the best cities in Australia for nightlife, and rightly so. Whether you want speakeasy’s, live music venues, or to two-step until the early hours, you will find it in Melbourne. A cult-favourite is of course, Revolver, or ‘Revs upstairs’ where you can party Saturday night right through to Monday, if you have the stamina!
Watch the Sunset and penguins at st kilda beach
Although Melbourne is not known for it’s beach life, one place that is definitely worth a visit on a sunny day, is St Kilda beach. It doesn’t quite compare to the other stunning beaches found in Australia, but if a beach day is what you’re after, then you can still find it in Melbourne. St Kilda beach is also home to penguins, which if you’re lucky, you’ll be able to see near the pier, most usually at sunset. Speaking of sunsets, this was where I saw the best (and completely unobstructed) sunset so far in Australia!
Vintage shopping in Fitzroy
Fitzroy is such a fun and vibrant area, which can be compared to the likes of Newtown in Sydney, or Shoreditch in London. It’s nothing glamourous, with no frills, but packed full of excellent restaurants, bars, vintage shopping and the weekend Fitzroy Market.
Visit Melbournes galleries, exhibitions and museums
There are so many amazing galleries and exhibitions on offer in Melbourne, both permanent and temporary. Two of my favourites that I visited were the ACMI, which had a few interactive (paid and free) exhibitions and the National Gallery of Victoria, where you can see work from a variety of international artists.
This is only a few of the amazing things to do in Melbourne. The city really has so much to offer visitors!
